Translator: WQL Editor: Aleem
On April 7, 4 days after the national banquet, the execution ground outside the Meridian Gate of emperor’s imperial city of Xuanyuan Hill…
Handcuffed, Fang Keyan closed his eyes involuntarily as a beam of sunshine cast onto his face the moment he got off a black prison van escorted by some guards. At the same time, he raised his hand to cover his eyes.
Meanwhile, Fang Keyan heard a sea of sheer roars in the surroundings.
“Beat him to death…”
“Beat him to death…”
“Beat this lackey of Heavens Reaching Church to death…”
“Beat this son of a b*tch to death!”
In the overwhelming roars, Fang Keyan’s forehead ached as it was struck by a smelly egg. Broken pieces of eggshell and stinky, degenerative yolk and egg white sprayed over Fang Keyan’s face in a split second, making him pretty embarrassed.
Fang Keyan turned around as he saw a 7-year old kid, who was gazing at him fearlessly. At the same time, the kid threw the second smelly egg towards him.
“Go die, you b*stard…”
“Beat him to death!”
All the onlookers around the execution ground were looking at him in furious, despicable and hateful expression.
When the turmoil in Xuanyuan Hill happened, Han Zhengfang’s party members and accomplices were struggling in Xuanyuan Hill. The party members of Heavens Reaching Church killed people and set fire everywhere so that they could have a chance to escape away from Xuanyuan Hill. Commoners in Xuanyuan Hill were deeply afflicted by them. Therefore, commoners in Xuanyuan Hill abhorred Heavens Reaching Church very much. After knowing that the “remnant” of Han Zhengfang’s party was going to be beheaded today, the onlooking commoners couldn’t wait to eat his flesh and sleep under his skin.
At the same time, Fang Keyan was struck by more dirty things such as broken soles, rotten vegetable roots even dried sh*t being wrapped by paper.
If not being towed by those guards of supreme court and stones were forbidden to throw at the criminal in case he was beaten to death ahead of the execution or his face was broken by stones which would be hardly identified after his death in that age, Fang Keyan would have been beaten to death by irritated people in the short distance of about 100 meters from where he got off the prison van to the ground of execution.
When he looked at the ground of execution, Fang Keyan’s face turned dismal at once as he quivered all over. The minister of the imperial financial and living affairs who was qualified to be an honorable guest in Anyan Palace could never imagine about such a reversal of his fate in only a few days——he would face the end of his life in the ground of execution outside Meridian Gate.
Previously, as an official in the emperor’s imperial city, he would always be escorted imposingly when he inspected each province. Even the commanders of military regions would respect him.
By contrast, as a convict awaiting execution, his official uniform had been peeled off. He would be pointed and hated by a multitude of people wherever he passed by. Even a 7- year old kid would like to kill him.
One thought would lead people to paradise or hell.
“I want to see grand justice. I’m wronged. I want to see Grand Justice Yu; I want to see the crown prince…” Fang Keyan was still yelling even after being embarrassed; however, his yells became as low as the sound of flies flapping their wings in the overwhelming roars “beat him to death”, “beat this son of a b*tch to death”.
“General Mushen saved hundreds of millions of people from the demon camp at the bank of Weishui River; he also heavily destroyed the demon army and enabled commoners in the theater of operations to have enough food and give officers and soldiers sharp weapons to kill demons. Although we don’t read too many books, we also know that General Mushen is a hero of Taixia Country. These days, when we drank in boite, even the storyteller who described Legend of Black Iron Hero said that General Mushen is the pillar of Hua people and the country. He’s righteous, merciful and dignified. Because of the existence of General Mushen, demons fail to cross the Weishui River. You sh*t, vicious official, how could you dare screw General Mushen and stand on the side of demons and Heavens Reaching Church? You ungrateful b*stard! You’re wronged? Peh…”
A guard at his 40s said as he looked at Fang Keyan in a despicable expression. Watching Fang Keyan struggling and wailing, those guards exchanged a glance with each other. The guard who said just now tipped the other two a wink. The other two guards then forcefully thrust their iron-wrapped wooden sticks against Fang Keyan’s shanks, breaking his bones at once. Feeling a sudden heavy pain, Fang Keyan wailed miserably before passing out. Those guards then drew him onto the ground of execution.
When Fang Keyan woke up a few minutes later, his head had been buckled onto the rack. An official in vermeil uniform was having someone spraying water over his face.
After seeing that Fang Keyan woke up, that official took a flagon and made a cup of spirit for him. After that, he raised the glass to Fang keyan’s lips.
“Mr. Fang, it’s your last drink…”
Seeing that official’s face, Fang Keyan’s flurried eyelight turned bright at once as if he caught a life-saving straw. Struggling, he uttered, “Mr. Xiang, Mr. Xiang, as we know each other, please let me see Mr. Yu and the crown prince. I’m wronged. You know that I’m wronged…”
“Mr. Fang, don’t you know that civil officials are more useful in governing a country in peaceful times while military officers are more useful in troubled times?” The official in vermeil uniform sighed, “We’ve already been in a position far greater than that of common provincial governors. We take compensations from the country; therefore, we should be diligent, act dutifully and be loyal to our country. General Mushen is a moral and righteous hero. How could Mr. Fang expect to offend him with words in Anyan Palace and make the crown prince embarrassed? It’s not beneficial to the country! How could you be that stupid? You know that it’s in the holy war, civil officials like us couldn’t even match a common field officer on the battlefield. In the eyes of the countrymen, even 1 million of people like you and me couldn’t even match a finger of General Mushen. It’s okay that you couldn’t kill enemies on the battlefield; how dare you offend General Mushen in the public? You’re zoning out by profit! You’re seeking for death! If you’re wronged, everybody else in the world would become idiots. We should live up to people’s heart…”
Fang Keyan burst into tears as if he was driven mad, “I’m wronged…I’m wronged…I want to see the crown prince…I could bear the rod and willingly take the punishment…”
“If Su Qianling was here, I’m afriad that he would feel lucky that his letter of impeachment was submitted a few years ago before General Mushen’s name became remarkable and demons’ invasion into Taixia Country. If he submitted it now, Mr. Fang would not be the only one person who’s going to be beheaded…” The official in vermeil uniform said calmly, “Mr. Fang, no need to say anything now. You’re too talkative. As your old friend, it’s my final willingness to serve you this glass of spirit. After taking this glass of spirit, Mr. Fang shall prepare for going onto the path. I will have the executioner do it fast in case Mr. Fang suffer any pain…”
Su Qianling was one of the censors who impeached Zhang Tie in earlier years. Finally, he failed it and was therefore demoted to Yinzhou Province as a deputy class VIII fiscal administrator. Thankfully, he was still alive.
“I want to see the crown prince…I want to see General Mushen…I’m the minister of imperial financial and living affairs, who of you dare to kill me…officials are not to be killed by his words in Xuanyuan Hill; I want to see Emperor Xuanyuan…” Fang Keyan fell into a trance as he started to exclaim.
Watching Fang Keyan, that official’s eyesight gradually turned distant. He then poured the last glass of spirit over the green rock in front of Fang Keyan before turning around and returning to the surveillance platform.
Two more officials were sitting on the surveillance platform with glassy-eyed looks. Watching that official in vermeil uniform returning, one of them waved his hand as a shrewd inferior official moved forward to authenticate the identity of Fang Keyan.
The inferior official then returned and nodded towards that official.
“Mr. Xiang, it’s not because we don’t trust you. As it’s a major crime with the consent of the crown prince, no error is allowed. This humble official could only follow the procedure…” That official said as he cupped his hands towards Mr. Xiang.
“Mr. Hong, you’re too polite. You’re right. You’re right…” Mr. Xiang said with a smile, “Fang Keyan’s clan have been thoroughly investigated. All of his male relatives have been banished to illegal mines in Mozhou Province as all of his unpregnant female relatives have been banished to the imperial training center in Liangzhou Province. From then on, this case would come to an end…”
The other official on one side of the table threw a cursory glance at the sundial on the ground of execution before turning around and saying, “Time’s up…”
With the hot sun above, the shadow of the needle on the sundial reached 12:45, when the yang qi would be the most vigorous in one day. If they executed a criminal at this moment, they could break evils and ghosts, leaving no aftermath.
After throwing a glance at the sundial, Mr. Xiang took a “token” arrow in front of him before throwing it forward, saying “Execution…”
After receiving the order, the executioner had a mouth of drink before spraying half of it onto the broad saber whose handle was carved in the shape of a ghost’s head. Closely after that, a light flashed, head off, spraying blood over the green rock where remained traces of spirit…
“Fabulous…” Onlooking commoners shouted in unison.
…
At the same time, in the airport of Xuanyuan Hill…
Zhang Tie looked up at the sun hanging high in the sky as he told the crown prince, “Crown prince, see you!”
Zhang Tie’s family members had already boarded the airboat. However, the crown prince still stood on the tarmac and felt pitiful leaving Zhang Tie. Because of the arrival of the crown prince, the entire airport had been blocked and was covered by imperial guards.
Additionally, the crown prince also brought a imperial airboat which was especially made by the imperial financial and living affairs ministry for His Majesty as a gift. The magnificent imperial airboat was almost 1,000 m in length and six-storeyed. It was absolutely a top rarity among airboats. There were fewer than 20 such airboats across Taixia Country.
Due to the great passion of the crown prince, Zhang Tie had to receive this gift before leaving as he told his family members to board on this new airboat.
“Alas, I really wish to see you soon. After returning to Youzhou Province, if younger brother couldn’t recover your wounds smoothly, hopefully, you could let me know it as soon as possible. I must collect all the top medical forces across the country to work out the recipe for your recovery!” Crown prince said with emotions.
“Thanks for your care, Brother Changying. If I couldn’t recover smoothly, I would never decline your good intention!” Zhang Tie said with a smile.
“That’s fine. That’s fine. Bon Voyage!”
“Here’s a small gift. Courtesy demands reciprocity. Hopefully, Brother Changying could accept it!” Zhang Tie said as a jade case appeared in his hand. Closely after that, he gave it to the crown prince.
After throwing a glance at Zhang Tie, the crown prince accepted his gift with a smile.
After cupping his hands towards the crown prince, Zhang Tie turned around and boarded on the 1,000 m long airboat.
Watching the airboat slowly ascending and accelerating towards the north, the crown prince opened the jade case out of curiosity as he saw 10 cross-realm flower’s fruits, the quantity of which was even greater than that in the imperial warehouse of Xuanyuan Palace.
After seeing the 10 fruits of cross-realm flowers, the crown prince looked up as he sighed with an implicit complex feeling…
…
On the airboat, Zhang Tie gradually recovered his composure as he let out a deep sigh, watching Xuanyuan Hill gradually fading away in the horizon.
Xuanyuan Hill was a huge swirl which contained wealth, positions, beauties, great ambitions, and dirty tactics and desires. Zhang Tie could rarely settle down in such an environment. When he recalled what he had experienced in Xuanyuan Hill these days and that Meng Shidao had stayed in Sincerity Garden of Xuanyuan Hill for decades, Zhang Tie sincerely admired Meng Shidao’s disposition and cultivation base.
Today, someone was beheaded; someone was happy for his leave; someone would sigh for his leave. However, all these were not important anymore. Importantly, Zhang Tie could return to Youzhou Province and Fire-Dragon Bounty Territory.
Compared to the prosperity in Xuanyuan Hill, Youzhou Province and Fire-Dragon Bounty Territory were what he really cared about.
No matter how magnificent and prosperous the place was, if there was nobody to recall with nostalgia over there, it would be strange for Zhang Tie.
Besides, after returning to Fiery-Dragon Bounty Territory, Zhang Tie could enter Castle of Black Iron to check the fruit of redemption from setting free humans in the name of cultivation. By contrast, so many people were paying heed to his movements in Xuanyuan Hill; as a result, he couldn’t have a chance to enter Castle of Black Iron unless exposing the secret of Castle of Black Iron.
In Qianji Manor, as long as he disappeared, Yan Feiqing would sense it right away. The disturbance from outside couldn’t be completely isolated unless he was in the back room which was especially built for knight’s cultivation.
“Dad, are we going back home?” Zhang Shini asked him as she gripped Zhang Tie’s hand and raised her naive face with light footsteps.
Zhang Tie cradled her baby as he let out a deep sigh and slightly pinched her tiny nose, replying, “Yes, we’re going back home, Xiao Nini, do you like it?”
“Mom likes it; grandma likes it; I like it too…”
“Do you like this airboat?”
“Very much. I’ve got a lot of toys in my room…”
Kid’s world was always simple. Zhang Tie burst into laughter…
